Thousands of students are expected to sign a petition at York University on Tuesday, encouraging both sides of the labour dispute to continue bargaining.
Classes for nearly 50,000 York students have been cancelled since Nov. 6 due to a strike by teaching assistants, part-time and contract faculty - all members of CUPE 3903.
Talks between the two sides resumed on Saturday - about a month since the two sides last met.
The York Federation of Students organized the petition signing today with hopes it will get both the union and university negotiators to stay at the bargaining table.
A union spokesperson said yesterday they were encouraged by the latest round of negotiations.
To make up for the lost time -- when a deal is finally reached -- Reading Week will be cancelled, and both terms and exam periods will be shortened.
Some students are worried their degrees won't mean as much because they haven't had enough time in the classroom. However, York says it is working to ensure students get a meaningful degree and proper evaluation.
The educational careers of thousands of students was put on hold in 2000-2001 during a job action by the same union. The strike lasted from Oct. 26 to Jan. 10, postponing the school year.
